Page 36 of Love and War

Myphonebeganbuzzingfor what felt like the millionth time since I’d been avoiding Killian. It had to be him or Holly. The two people I was avoiding like the plague. After Killian and I slept together, he left a few hours after I fell asleep. I don’t know where he went, and I told myself I didn’t care. My heart and brain both knew I was a bullshit liar. But it was the thought that counted.

I wanted to kick myself for allowing him to crawl his way back into my heart. That I allowed him to fuck me like I was his own personal slut. I hated myself for it. When he left, I told myself I wouldn’t let him back in if he ever came back. That if he could leave me that easily then I could easily let him go. That I wouldn’t be sucked back into his life and the lies he apparently told me.

But here I am, abig fucking liar.

Because I cared. I cared more than I ever wanted to admit. I wanted him still; I still loved him. I still fucking cared.

Turning the volume up on the music, “People” by Libianca began to play. Taking a deep breath, my body moved. My hip ached as my body twisted, but I ignored the pain.

I just danced.

My phone began going off once more. Storming over I hit the side button without even glancing at the screen. I didn’t want to care if he was calling.

Turning around, it began going off again.

“For fucks sake!” I yelled. Without looking at the screen I hit answer. “Leave me the fuck alone!” I growled.

“Aziza.” That voice didn’t belong to Killian or Holly.

“Tyler?”

“I need you to get down to the hospital, it’s Salem.”

The phone went dead.

It’s Salem.

It’s Salem.

The words repeated over and over in my head as I mindlessly got my things together and drove to the hospital.

***

The moment I walked into the waiting area I was ready to rip Zane a new asshole, along with Killian. It had something to do with the fact I’d noticed he hadn’t called me at all in the past two days. Or the fact he was here with Zane, while Salem was hurt.

“Where is she?” I demanded the moment I got close enough to them.

Zane crossed his arms over his chest, not daring to say a word. Fine by me. I turned to Killian.

Narrowing my eyes, I asked again, “Where the hell is she?”

But neither of them spoke. Killian didn’t even bat an eye. That made me even more angry. How can he fuck me a few days ago, then act like I was a fly that he wanted to flick away?

“I swear to fuck if none of you can tell me what happened to mybest friend,” I said, making sure I spat the friend part out at Killian, “then both of you can go fuck yourself.”

I couldn’t explain why I was getting so upset. But instead of focusing on myself, I could find out about Salem.

Marching around the floor I tried to find Tyler. He would tell me the truth and wouldn’t ask questions about the injuries she already has.

Searching around for thirty minutes I couldn’t find him. I even went to get the shitty coffee he always drank here. Nothing. My best bet was to go wait with the two people I truly didn’t want to deal with. They were the ones who brought her in, so it would be the easiest way to get to her.

Making my way back into the waiting area, I spotted Dimitri along with his family and then Tyler who stood in front of them.

“She went to get something to drink.” Killian's eyes flicked to mine. “Here she is.”

“Is she okay?” I whispered.

“She’s resting right now. We had to repair the damage done to her kidney, along with some bleeding she had. We stitched up the two stab wounds, but she has some bad bruising,” Tyler said to me. I almost laughed at the fact he never once spoke to them. He waited for me to get here and only addressed me.

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